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Title: MULTI-STATE FIELD TRIALS OF ARS RUSSIAN HONEY BEES 2. HONEY PRODUCTION 1999, 2000

Author
item Rinderer, Thomas
item De Guzman, Lilia
item Delatte, Gary
item Stelzer, John
item LANCASTER, V - NEPTUNE & COMPANY, INC.
item WILLIAMS, JON - 6413-30-00
item Beaman, Glenda
item KUZNETSOV, V - RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENC
item BIGALK, M - GOLDEN RIDGE HONEY FARMS
item BERNARD, S - BERNARD'S APIARIES, INC.

Submitted to: American Bee Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2001
Publication Date: 10/1/2001
Citation: RINDERER, T.E., DEGUZMAN, L.I., DELATTE, G.T., STELZER, J.A., LANCASTER, V.A., WILLIAMS, J.L., BEAMAN, G.D., KUZNETSOV, V., BIGALK, M., BERNARD, S.J., MULTI-STATE FIELD TRIALS OF ARS RUSSIAN HONEY BEES #2. HONEY PRODUCTION 1999,2000, AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, 2001, VOL. 141, pgs. 726-729, EDITION #10.

Interpretive Summary: Field trials of Russian honey bee honey production were conducted in 1999 and 2000 in Iowa, Louisiana, and Mississippi. While honey production varied between apiaries and states, The honey production of the majority of Russian colonies met or exceeded commercial standards. For example, the best production came from Mississippi in 2000. There, the overall average production was 125 pounds, not including fall production. Selected breeder queens from Mississippi in 2000 averaged 185 pounds and ranged from 149 to 238 pounds. Overall, given favorable nectar flows and beekeeping, ARS Russian honey bees released to the beekeeping industry will provide honey production equal to industry standards.

Technical Abstract: Field trials of Russian honey bees (ARS Primorsky stock) propagated as queen lines from queens imported from the far- eastern province of Primorsky were conducted in 1999 and 2000 in Iowa, Louisiana, and Mississippi. While honey production varied between apiaries and states, the honey production of the majority of Primorsky queen lines met or exceeded commercial standards. For example, the best production came from Mississippi in 2000. There, the overall average production was 125 pounds, not including fall production. Selected breeder queens from Mississippi in 2000 averaged 185 pounds and ranged from 149 to 238 pounds. Overall, given favorable nectar flows and beekeeping, ARS Primorsky stock selected for retention in the breeding program and released to the beekeeping industry will not sacrifice honey production.